Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release October 10, 2000
PRESS BRIEFING BY
SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE PRESIDENT
AND POLICY COORDINATOR ON NORTH KOREA
WENDY SHERMAN
The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
10:55 A.M. EDT
MR. CROWLEY: Good morning, everyone. We've had a very important
visitor here at the White House this morning, Vice Marshal Cho Myong
Rok, the first Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North
Korea. And here to give you a readout of the meeting with the President
and to also amplify on his visit to Washington as a whole, we have Wendy
Sherman, who is Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State,
our North Korea Policy Coordinator, and Counselor to the Secretary of
State. We also have Ambassador Chuck Kartman of the State Department
who handles missile issues for us; and the new Senior Director for Asian
Affairs of the National Security Council Jack Pritchard.
Starting off will be Ambassador Wendy Sherman.
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Good morning. As you know, this is the
beginning of the visit. The North Korean delegation, led by Vice
Marshal Cho Myong Rok, came to Washington last night, staying at the
Mayflower Hotel. We greeted him there. He is the Special Envoy of
Chairman Kim Chong-il and comes here as his personal representative. He
began his day with his delegation including First Vice Foreign Minister
Kang Sok Ju, with a courtesy call on the Secretary of State.
I should note that he came to that meeting in a business suit and
came to the meeting with the President of the United States, which just
ended, lasting about 40-45 minutes, in full military uniform. We think
this is very important for the United States, for American citizens to
know that all segments of North Korea society, obviously led by Chairman
Kim Chong-il in sending this Special Envoy, are working to improve the
relationship between the United States and North Korea and this is
obviously an important message to the citizens of North Korea as well.
The President and Vice Marshal Cho had a very positive, direct and
warm meeting this morning. They both agreed that the Inter-Korean
Summit has created an opportunity for this historic meeting here today,
and spent some time talking about the importance of that inter-Korean
dialogue. Vice Marshal Cho did bring a letter from Chairman Kim
Chong-il with him to the President to describe the important point we
are in, in our relationship with each other, and the hope that we would
improve it further.
The Vice Marshal conveyed, on behalf of Chairman Kim Chong-il to
the President some ideas on how to build on the progress that we have
made in our bilateral relationship. As I said, we are in the early
stages of this visit. The Vice Marshal and his delegation will have
further meetings and discussions today. They will see some of
Washington, D.C., as Dr. Perry and I saw some of Pyongyang when we were
there in May of 1999.
The Secretary will host a dinner on the 8th floor of the State
Department today, then she will hold a bilateral meeting tomorrow
morning to discuss the progress that we have made today and to begin to
reflect on some of the ideas that the Vice Marshal brought with him
today.
I think this was an excellent start to this meeting, and we look
forward to continued very positive, frank and warm discussions as we try
to improve the relationship between our two countries. I would be glad
to take a few questions.
Oh, I should note one other thing. The Vice Marshal noted that he
had spent his life in uniform. By the end of the visit with the
President, after having made a very forceful and warm presentation to
the President, the President noted that he thought he would be a pretty
good politician.
Q What message do you think he was trying to send by changing
uniforms?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Well, he is the Vice Chairman of the National
Defense Commission, which is the key body in North Korea, not only
that's part of governance, but also the senior military official. He is
Vice Chairman to Chairman Kim Chong-il. And so I think he was coming as
he is, the Vice Marshal, and he was also, I think, conveying a very
important message to us and to the citizens of North Korea and of the
region, that this effort to improve relations is one that is shared not
only by the civilian side, by the foreign ministry, but by the military
as well, and we think that is very important and look forward to the
meeting with Secretary Cohen, which will take place on Wednesday
afternoon.
Q Could you shed a little bit of light on the letter which Mr.
Cho conveyed from Kim Chong-il to President Clinton? That was personal
or businesslike, what -- could you -- how could you characterize it?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: To be perfectly frank, I only looked at it
very quickly before I came into this room. So my impression is that it
is, of course, the kind of letter one would expect from the head of one
country to the head of another country. And it is exactly what you
would expect in that regard.
Q Could you tell us how far the North Koreans have actually come
in meeting the requirements of the U.S. for being taken off the
terrorist list, and do you expect that during the course of the visit
here, that the gap would be filled through your discussions with Marshal
Cho?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: We have taken together, working with North
Koreans, I believe they have taken some very positive steps forward.
Ambassador Michael Sheehan, who is our coordinator for counterterrorism,
has met with the North Koreans on more than one occasion, along with
Ambassador Kartman who is our special envoy and senior negotiator.
And in those meetings, we have made clear the steps that we believe
North Korea must take in order for the President to say to Congress that
he believes we should begin the process of removing them from the
terrorism list. The statement that was released on Friday, which was a
joint public statement, of noting the importance of foreswearing
terrorism, harboring of terrorist groups, individual and collective
acts, was something that all states of the international community, of
the United Nations, ought to follow through on. We think this was an
important public statement about the intentions of North Korea in how
they will proceed into the future.
There are still a couple of other things that they must do, and I'm
hopeful that those steps will be taken in the near future. I can't give
you a specific timetable; that's really a decision for them to make.
Q What are those couple of other steps?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Our law is very clear about the kinds of
things that need to take place, and I would refer you to it.
Q Can you talk about the North Korean missile program? There
had been some talk back in July about the possibility of a deal whereby
they would reduce their missile program or put off their missile program
entirely in exchange for some sort of international agreement to give
them launch capacity for satellites. Any further discussion of that
idea? Is that still on the table? Did that come up in this meeting?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: We certainly expect that during this visit we
will discuss the idea that, purportedly Chairman Kim Chong-il presented
to President Putin in their meetings. I think there is no question,
based on the discussions this morning, that our concerns about missiles,
not only that specific idea, but many other ideas and concerns, will be
discussed during this visit.
Q What was discussed specifically about missiles today between
the President and Marshal Cho?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: We're at the very beginning of the meeting.
We were putting the concerns on the table, but this was not a
negotiating session, this was not a substantive bilateral. This was
meant to be an introductory and very historic meeting between the
President of the United States and a personal, special envoy of Chairman
Kim Chong-il, and I think this was a very good beginning to our visit.
Q Can I ask, then, at one venue that might be addressed during
Mr. Cho's visit?
AMBASSADOR HERMAN: As I said, we will have discussions that will
take place at several different levels, including with the Secretary of
State, with me, with my colleagues during these two days.
Q And you said they're putting those concerns on the table.
Did President Clinton specifically mention those concerns, or those
questions in the meeting this morning?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Of course. President Clinton reviewed the
range of concerns that the United States has in a very appropriate,
summary fashion for this kind of an introductory meeting, and urged that
we work hard over the next two days to continue to build on the progress
that we have made in previous negotiations and meetings.
Q What was their reply? What was their reply to that?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: I think that we all expect there to be
continued discussions while they are here.
Q Do you have set up a schedule to visit Madam Secretary
Albright with North Korea?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: We are going to take this process one step at
a time, and we're beginning with these very important talks here over
the next two days.
Q You stressed in the weeks since the South Korean-North Korean
summit that you need to see concrete results from North Korea before you
believe it's changed. And before this meeting, you said it was historic
in itself. But have you got any inkling after this visit there was
anything substantive and concrete that the Vice Chairman has brought
which can convince you now that something is indeed happening?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: I think it would be premature to define the
results of the meeting before the meetings have taken place. So I'm
sure you will hear from us again. But as I did say earlier last week,
the very fact that Chairman Kim Chong-il would send a special envoy of
such high rank to the United States to convey his ideas and his personal
message is an important and historic step in a process for improving the
relationship and supporting President Kim Dae Jung in reaching peace and
stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Q Did they ever shake hands in their meeting? They didn't
before the cameras.
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Yes, they did. When he walked in the door,
and when he left.
Q Usually, North Korea does not have diplomat relationship. So
how would you treat the North Korean delegation here? And there still
are terrorist organizations in --
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: When Dr. Perry and I traveled to Pyongyang in
May of 1999, we were received with great hospitality, with respect and
with great cordiality, and we hope that we will do the same and are
doing the same for the North Korean delegation visiting here.
Q The President said on Friday last week that any
reconciliation with North Korea also has to be good for South Korea and
Japan. Will the President specifically deal with Japan's concern about
the Japanese Red Army hijackers and the alleged kidnapping of Japanese
nationals?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: As I said, the President and the Vice Marshal
agreed that the Inter-Korean Summit made the opportunity for this
historic visit possible. And the President spoke to the broad concerns
of the international community, obviously including Japan, that need to
be addressed in order to improve our bilateral relationship.
Q Did the President or the Vice Marshal bring up --
Q How specific was the President about the Japanese concerns?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: As I said, this was a beginning meeting, and
we will have ongoing meetings over the next two days, and I don't think
it would be appropriate to get into a line-by-line detail.
Q Did the President or Vice Marshal bring up the subject of
U.S. troops in South Korea and their continued presence there?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: As I said once again, we discussed a range of
issues in this meeting, but it was in a summary introductory fashion to
really start off the meetings and the discussions we're going to have
over the next two days in a very positive way.
Q When you went out of your way to say at the end, if I heard
you correctly, that the President mentioned that the Vice Marshal might
also make a good politician, that suggests at least a degree of
camaraderie in the meeting. Can you describe in any sort of way the
atmospherics, how they talked and dealt with one another. And was there
sort of any warmth or -- just give us an atmospheric reading, if you
could.
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Sure. I think that the beginning of the
meeting started off with everyone with the talking points that they had
brought with them, as most meetings like this do, I think rather quickly
began an exchange of views and a true discussion back and forth between
the President and the Vice Marshal. The Vice Marshal spoke on his own
in response, without prompting or the need for talking points. He
clearly had come with a very strong message from Chairman Kim Chong-il.
They had met just before he left for the United States. He knew his
brief exceedingly well, and made a very forceful and very strong
statement of the set of ideas that he was bringing with him.
The President, as you know, the President is a very engaged leader,
and he was in this instance as well. There was some humor in the
meeting. There was some back and forth, and I think both came away with
a sense of wanting to work harder, even harder to work to improve the
relationship.
Q Can you tell us what they're going to be seeing this
afternoon? Have they expressed any interest in going to any particular
sights, and how will they go around Washington this afternoon?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: We, between Protocol and Diplomatic Security,
and the East Asia Pacific Bureau will host them in any touring they do.
I expect that they'll see some of the very critical monuments here in
Washington, as we did in Pyongyang, and they may see some signs of
everybody's daily life as well. I think they're working through with
them exactly what they want to see.
Q Did they say what they want to see? Do you have any idea
what they want to see?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Oh, I think they want to see Washington. They
want to get a sense of the lives of people here in the United States.
Q Can you tell us something about the ideas that were included
in that letter, some of the suggestions that President Kim sent along?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: I think it would be premature to do so. Among
other things, I really haven't had a chance to study the letter. We
wanted to come right out of the meeting with the President and come in
and see you.
Q Well, once you've read the letter, could you release a copy
to us?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: I think that's really a decision for the White
House to make.
Q Do you believe that North Korea has the intention to hand
over Japanese Red Army?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: As I said earlier, we have had very frank
discussions with North Korea about what we believe is required under our
law. They're very well aware of the steps that need to be taken, and we
will continue discussions while they are here about those steps.
Q Do you expect the President to meet with the Vice Marshal
again before he leaves?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: There is nothing scheduled at this time in
that regard. We expect that he will be meeting with the Secretary of
State again, and with the Secretary of Defense, and we will, of course,
make a progress report to the President.
Q Was the issue of recovering remains of casualties of U.S.
service personnel from the Korean War discussed? And are there any
other things that may come out of these meetings dealing with that
unresolved chapter in U.S.-Korean history?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: I'm very glad that you brought that up. This
is a very important part of our relationship with North Korea. It is an
area in which, of late, they have been trying to cooperate to help us
recover remains. This was very much on the mind of the President. He
spoke to it urged that we continue the work together to try to resolve
this very critical issue that means so much to so many American
families.
Q So that we don't mischaracterize what you said today, could
you just, without going into detail, summarize the range of concerns?
Everything from the remains of soldiers in Korea to missiles?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: Right. I would say from soldiers to missiles
to terrorism to what we have built on in the past in terms of our
bilateral relationship, our presence, our nuclear concerns -- the whole
range. And I wouldn't say that he detailed each one of them in this
meeting, but he certainly referred to the range of issues that we have
worked on that Ambassador Kartman and my colleagues have also worked on
over the months and years.
Q Any discussion about the liaison office in Washington D.C.?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: I think we will discuss a whole range of
issues over the next two days, including issues of normalization and
diplomatic representation.
Q How long was the meeting, again?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: About 45 minutes.
Q A large part of the administration's missile defense program
has focused on the threat posed by North Korea. How does this meeting
affect the future of the missile defense program?
AMBASSADOR SHERMAN: We really did not reflect on that in the
context of this meeting. Clearly, in the President's consideration of
national missile defense, threat was one of the concerns. North Korea
was part of that concern. We have made that very clear to them. That
concern remains and it is why it is such an important subject of our
discussions with them.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END 11:10 A.M. EDT